Ms Karen Ciesielski:

I do not think we could agree more with the need for systems change. While we, of course, encourage individuals to change their behaviour and to act, purchase and consume sustainably, we also need the State to lead from the front. This is especially the case when it comes to protecting nature. So far this morning, we have talked about climate action, but we have not talked about protecting nature and stopping the worst of the attacks on our threatened habitats and species.

For example, today is the International Day of the Forests. We have been speaking broadly, but to get a little more specific, it is appropriate to spend some time talking about forestry in Ireland. According to Forest Statistics Ireland 2022, some 11% of our land is forested. This is among the lowest in the EU. When we examine these figures more closely, we see a system that focuses predominantly on intensive production. This is worsening water quality and leading to additional negative pressures on our habitats and species, further threatening our biodiversity.

To take just one example within the rubric of the 17 goals, we need a new vision for Irish forestry and woodlands, which will bring with it ecologically and socially coherent sustainable land use that is protecting and enhancing our environment, diversifying our rural economy and creating spaces for work and recreation and overall enhancing the quality of life for rural communities. This is just an example of one thing we can do. When we look at the role of the State in this regard, Coillte manages more than 50% of our forested land, so it can lead from the front in this regard. We must use public lands, for example, in the public interest. To do this, we can explore changing the public, legal mandate of Coillte, and similar bodies like Bord na Móna, to ensure the State is leading from the front.

When we talk about systems change, we cannot overlook the fact that we regularly break the law in respect of our environmental legal obligations under the water framework, habitats and birds directives. To put this simply, we are not doing what we need to do to enhance, protect and restore biodiversity in Ireland. We cannot do it without enormous systems change, which the State must lead from the front.